The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-01-13
the maine of Nor
kty from Yir-

any quantity of efss seBS by turn he was
q literary man, and had an accomplish
education, and, perhaps, the finest library
in Western Carolina. He was said to
have been g good mar. We wish ne
could say as much for the mother. Suf-
fee it 10 say she was not good woman.
When the war broke out all of his pro-
porty was swept away-everythin he
possessed, and he died just before the
surrender, leaving his wife and two little
sons to battle tseir way in the world
alone.
They were about eight and ten years
Of age when their father died, and, with
proper care and training, they would
have undoubtedly made good and useful
citizens; but with such mother, we will
ask, what better could have been expec-
ted Of them? She taught them to hate
everybody, and that everybody was their
enemy. She made them 60 armed, and
when one Of them was fined for carrying
concealed weapons. che paid the fine i'm
posed, bought him pair of pistols and
told him TO wear them buckled around
his waist, and to Use them when he
thought proper.
They-Henry and Edward-grew up
to be young men, and at the time the
crime was committed, they were about
2S and 80 years old respectively.
Jealousy on both sides and a woman
was the cause of the crime.
Henry had loaned his brother Edward
sixty dollars or more, and often he had
asked his brother for it, but was always
put off with some trifling excuse.
He went over to see his brother about
it-they were living on the same farm,
but not in the same house--and he was
heard to remark before he left the house
"that he would have his money OF
blood" and he got blood!
They met in front of their mothers
house, and were standing within ten feet
Of each other. The ir mother, seeing
them standing there duarreling. walked
out of the house and stood between them
the conversation that took place be-
tween them was never known.
Suddenly there rang out on. the cool
Feport pistol, and Ed
!se.- e .so!tiineF fell is brothers
feet, the @ pail hatInE si. lofs:
hand was an open kni
As stated above the bother was stand
ing between them, skld had her right
hand up to her head putting under her
cap q stray lock of hair. When the pistol
fired the ball took off the forefnger Of her
right hand-barely missing her temple.
Both were married men and had fam
lilies.
Henry Mortimer Was arrested, tried
and acquitted. His mother being the
only witness in the case.
And now comes the strangest part OF
this story-stranger than fiction.
Henry Mortimer is a veritabIe mo.
dern Cain" He has not hair on him
from the crown of his head to the Soles
Of his feet. We have seen and talked
with him, and know whereof we speak.
He is about six and a. half feet high; very
stout; converses splendid, although some.
what reticent in his manner at first
appearance.
Shortly after he was acquitted, and Just
after he retired, which was between 8
and 10 o'clock, he was visited by his
dead brother. He could see and hear
him, but he himself could not move OF
speak. He lay as if dead in a passive
state. He had beautiful auburn hair and
beard, which was his pride. His brother
visited him the second time, and reach
ed out his skeleton arm and bony fingers,
and commenced plucking his hair-one
by one-from his head; then his eye
brows, eye lashes. beard and 30 on, until
he had plucked every hair off of his en-
tire body. It was not cone in one night,
but was kept up from night to night for
period Of about three months.
He Is wanderer on the earth, and
travels at night. He is the greatest curl.
osity that we have ever seen. He has
the supposed mark of Cain.
MessrS. ]. s. MeroneY and w. G. Payne,
who have started out to exhibit this
"Modern Cain" are two of our most
worthy citizens-Mr. Payne being an
ex-sherifof our county, and we commend
them TO the good people wherever they
may go. It is noshymbug, but fact.